Let it be said that this raw a release is what Death had been missing since Leprosy or even Scream Bloody Gore. With compressors that can be heard kicking in all over the place, the fact that this was recorded off the mixing desk at a gig simply emphasises the fact that this outstanding band have never needed superb production to shine through. The brutally honest platform that is the output of the mixing desk not only highlights the exceptional musicianship, and of course the greatness of the songs that are and have always been at the essence of this band, but captures the sheer intensity the Death live performance phenomenon. Schuldiner and Co. storm through a selection of numbers old and new with an unparalleled musical and emotional brutality that would have many of their insincere, coked-up contempories running for cover. Songs such as 'Together As One', 'Trapped In A Corner' or 'Zombie Ritual' rage out of the speakers as fresh and engrossing as the first time I heard them. 'Flesh And The Power It Holds'? -I couldn't have put it better myself.

Remember, this is a no-overdubs, no-frills recording and when I say it sounds great, I mean great. I cannot emphasise enough this fact that countless hordes of groups of people on instruments would be reduced to an embarrasingly laughable mess by the honest, bull-stripping, pure off the mixing desk treatment. This is yet another frustrating reminder of the talent that is presently denied to us. Get back on stage, Chuck.

[9,5] Nathanael Underwood

A companion release to the recent 'Live in L.A.'outing, this is another release to aid the weighty burden of Chuck Schuldiner's medical bills. Personally speaking, much of Death's most recent studio output leaves me cold and having been in attendance when Death took the Dynamo stage that Summer night, I came away with tinges of disappointement. Listening to this disc three years down the line puts things into perspective somewhat; the decent recording quality both gives a good feeling of atmoshpere and also lets tracks such as 'The Philosopher' and "Suicide Machine' yield Death's musical complexities while giving the compositions a bit extra in the power department. Old-timers will find much solace in the 1998 version of 'Pull The Plug' which is worth the purchase price on its own, being about as visceral and rendition as they come.

If the truth be told, a rating for this album is somewhat trivial, as the reasons to by this are manifold. That said, there are some absolutely killer earlier Death shows doing the rounds out there, maybe those could be released please?

[7] Guy Strachan